Problems.. Dead on the key..

[Roberto]

Odd one this.

Had the bike out last week to fit a farkle. Started fine.

Yesterday dead on the key. Nothing. No display, not a peep.

Charged on the Optimate overnight, battery recovered OK.

This morning: Dead on the key again, but battery charged.

Then third or fourth time of trying with the key get life as normal.


Checked all the battery connections, looks fine.

Just wondered if anyone had come across it.

 

[Wapping]

Are you really sure that the battery is charged?

It's quite possible that the battery is not holding its charge.

I had a similar problem on my brand new HP4, the battery was simply dead, unable to retain its charge.

Another problem I encountered on my GSA, also sounds similar to yours.... But the cause was not the battery, which was fine.....

The ignition barrel. has a small switch in it that wears out. In short, the key will turn but the switch will not engage, so no power flows. A new switch corrected the problem in short order.

 

[Roberto]

Thanks for that Richard, appreciated
Yes- battery is definitely holding a charge.

The switch sounds like it could be the ticket- did you note it as a periodic problem or did it just go kaput?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Sounds like the ignition switch and the sensors in the switch just wear out. Mine did the same last year and it was an intermittent problem similar to yours.

Fairly simple to change

 

[Magwych]

Me too, long time ago. It turned off whilst riding along once, that was fun. A new switch fixed it.

I leave the bike out in all weathers, so now cover the key barrel with a furniture coaster to stop the ingress of shite.

 

[fatgser]

had same problem a while back,
ended up to be the ignition switch

 

[Dahoum]

Just wondered if anyone had come across it.

Well ... yes, that could cause shorting of the battery terminals

 

[TLSgazza]

Deffo the ignition switch, not the key part, its the little black box that bolts to bottom of it, same thing happened to mine.

 

[Big Si]

I thought I'd got a possibly similar problem. GS is usually left on an Optimate when not being used. Last week, got distracted by the heat and forgot to "plug it in".
Yesterday, came to use it,and NOTHING, no noises, no dash lights, zilch.

Put it back on the charger but the Optimate showing nowt but the yellow test charge light even after an overnight charge.
This morning put the key in and ignition lights on, headlights on but just a couple of clicks from the starter motor,

Just ordered a new battery from James Sherlock

 

[Bendy toy]

A lead acid battery that's dropped below about 9 Volts open circuit undergoes a permanent change in the lead sulphate. An Optimate can often recover these batteries, but not always. So a dead flat battery when recharged might seem to recover but wont hold its charge.

 

[rocky burns]

If its the switch which I would say it is... unscrew from the bottom of the barrel and open up. There will be 2 little micro switches in there. Pull off the little rubber gator on the micro switches an spray in a bit of switch cleaner and give them a shake. Put them somwhere warm over night for the switch cleaner to evaporate and rebuild.
9 times out of 10 jobs a goodun.
R.B

 

[Roberto]

Thanks again, all.. Rocky B.. will do that tomorrow

 

[Heisenberg]

Defo switch...

Had same problem two months ago on my Adventure. Fixed it for a week with copius WD40 down the ignition barrel. I then had a new switch fitted - cured. Water goes down the barrel, collects in the switched located right underneath then boom. WD40 will dispel the moisture to get you going, but the damage is already done. New switch, I think it was c£60 from memory .

I hope this helps.

 

[Wapping]

Thanks again, all.. Rocky B.. will do that tomorrow

Rob, just get the micro-switch changed. It's the only reliable cure to your ongoing problem. Richard